A recent visit to my hair stylist left me suffering from throat and eye irritation, coughing and shortness of breath. I was there for a simple hair cut but I was assaulted by all the toxic chemicals in the hair products and nail polish used on all the other clients.

I have chemical sensitivities and in the past, exposure to certain chemicals has triggered asthma-like symptoms. I had been to this salon half a dozen times before without incident. On previous visits, I had never really noticed any bad smells, mainly because my sense of smell due to allergies is marginal at best.

On this particular visit, the salon was packed with customers having a variety of procedures from hair coloring and perms to having their nails done. My nose, once again, didn’t help me out. My first clue was when my chest started to tighten and I began to experience some breathing problems.

My haircut didn’t take long (about 30 minutes) and I hurried outside into the fresh air. That’s when I began processing what had just happened. It turned out okay but I could have experienced a full-blown asthma/allergy attack. I like my hair stylist but I was left wondering how I could avoid this happening in the future.

First, what were they using in the salon that was so toxic. According to the Women’s Voices for the Earth (WVE), many products used in hair and nail salons contain hazardous chemicals that could be harmful. These chemicals have been linked to headaches, skin irritations, breathing problems, and even more serious issues like asthma, immune diseases, certain cancers and birth defects.

Many salon products contain chemicals like toluene and formaldehyde, and some still contain Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP)—though the European Union has banned it from their cosmetics. Toluene, when inhaled in large doses, has been reported to cause extreme fatigue, mental confusion, nausea, headache and dizziness. As for formaldehyde, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommends it be handled as a potential occupational carcinogen.

Fortunately for consumers, many salons are turning to less toxic options. Ecocolors, hybrid and European brands often contain fewer chemicals and are used by these select salons.

Since I like my stylist, I plan on telling her about my chemical sensitivities and problems during my last visit. I am hoping we can plan my visit during a less busy time at the salon where my exposure will be limited.

If you are shopping for a salon, consider doing the smell test. How does the salon smell? You can tell a lot by the aroma. A highly chemical smell may indicate that the ventilation isn’t the best. Good ventilation is key, especially when dealing with nail polish and hair dyes. Choose those salons that smell more like fresh air.